Air conditioning apparatus



Jan. 11, 1938. H. K. STEINFELD ET AL 2,105,205

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 7 Filed Feb. 25, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1'INVENTORS H.K.5TE\NFEL H.\ .GAL5ON 1938. H. K. S TEINFELD ET AL2,105,205

I AIR CONDITIGNING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1933 ISShets-Sheet 2INVENTORS H.K.STEINFELD Jan. 11, 1938., H. K. STEINFELD ET #1, 2,105,205

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS IIIZ,

INVENTORs HKSTEINFELD H .L- .6AL5ON BY A.S- LOCKE' Patented Jan. 11,1938 UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Hans Steinfeld, Henry L.Galson, and Arthur S. Locke, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors toBaldwin-Southwark Corporation, a corporation of Delaware 7 ApplicationFebruary 25, 1933, Serial No. 658,610

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to air conditioning apparatuspreferably of the self-contained room cooler unit type and moreparticularly to improved ventilating means and means for snugly holdingin operative position a removable tray and a normally breakableventilator joint, thereby .to minimize air leakage and to avoidvibration of movable parts while at the same time maintaining convenientand easy removal thereof.

. In an air conditioning unit of the type which is herein specificallydisclosed for purposes of illustration, a self-contained compressionrefrigerating system is employed in combination with complementary heatexchange elements specifically a condenser and an evaporator forcooling. room air circulated thereover, although it will of course beunderstood .that various other refrigerating systems might be used andalso that the unit may be used for heating a room merely byinterchanging the condenser and evaporator functions of the heatexchange elements. With any system that might be employed it ispreferable to use a condensate tray removablydisposed within the unitand also to supply fresh airto the recirculated room air.

One object of our invention is to provide improved means for conductingand directing, air

through the unit whereby the air may be cooled,"

normallyreadily breakable or separable and yet- I easily be made tightin its operative position. 4o Another object is to provide an improvedventilating or fresh air arrangement in combination witha removable.tray which, herein specifically is a combined filter and condensatedisposal tray placed in the path of flow of the outside air over thecondenser although the tray'may be used only for the filter function orthe condensate function. Another object is to provide improved meansfor'snugiy holding in position said tray and ventilator joint and tosimilarly hold another tray specifically used for condensate collectingpurposes. A further object is to permit said trays to be individuallyreadily removed when,

the holding means is'released although it will be understood that onlya; single tray for either 1 collecting or disposal or both may be used.

A further and more specific object is to have the condensate disposaltray provided at its end' with-a short downwardly projecting elbowterminating preferably in a sloping surface which in 60 normal positionhas a wedging contact with wall of said and chamber through which theroom air passes in flowing to the room air blower.

Another object is to press said trays and wedging contact in a snuglyheld position by means of a door disposed preferably in one end of thecabinet although it will ofcourse be understood that various otherpositions or removable side portions of either the cabinet or wall ofthe unit may be employed to effect this function irrespective of whetherthe trays are removed longitudinally through the end of the cabinet orfrom some other position or direction.

Other objectsand advantages will be more apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following description of the accompanying drawingswhich represent for purposes of illustration one specific embodimentwhich the invention may take among other possible forms and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the room cooler unit placed in a roomadjacent a suitable opening therein such as a window to permitcommunication with the outside atmosphere for purposes of cooling thecondenser;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of one end of the room coolerunit showing the condensate disposal tray and breakable ventilatingconnection held in their normal operative posi-- tion by the end door ofthe cabinet, this section being taken on a plane generally indicated bythe line 2--2 of Fig. 1; i

, Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on theline 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the construction forlongitudinally'slidably supporting the condensate collecting anddisposal trays and for filtering theroom air and condenser cooling air;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the right end of theunit and showing the cabinet and door removed together with partialremoval of the condensate tray with its ventilating connection broken,this section being taken generally on theplane indicated by-the line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the breakable ventilatingconnection and contact between the room air and chamber and cabinetdoor.

The construction, arrangement of parts and mode of operation of theparticular type of room cooler unit herein disclosed is the same asshown in detail in the applications of Henry L. Galson,

Serial No. 648,772, filed December 24, 1932, and

Charles R. Neeson, Serial No. 656,487, filed February 13, 1933, exceptfor the differences herein set forth. Therefore it will sufiice to statefor purposes of this application that the unit includes a vertical axismotor-compressor unit generally indicated at l adapted to compress asuitable refrigerant which is condensed in a condenser generallyindicated at 2 from which liquid re- -erally indicated at 3.

ing means for evaporation in an evaporator genand 3' 'generally indicatethe vertical passages in which the condenser and evaporator per se aredisposed. The condenser is cooled by outside-air flowing inwardlythrough one portion of a duct 4 projecting rearwardly through a suitablewindow or opening 5 of the room and thence flows downwardly overmotor-compressor unit i and into an outside air blower 6 and thenceupwardly from its outlet 1 and over condenser 2 to the outsideatmosphere through another passage portion of duct 4. The room airenters a suitable opening 8 in a cabinet door 9 and thence flows-throughan end air chamber In to the inlet H of a room air blower l2 from whichthe air flows upwardly over the evaporator 3 to be cooled thereby andthence through a room outlet i3 formed in the top of the cabinet I4,said outlet l3 and inlet 8 each being provided with a suitable grille orperforated cover. The blowers 6 and i2 are driven from a common motor M.

As generally shown in Fig. 1, one end of the cabinet is provided with adoorway provided as shown in Fig. 4 with a groove IT to receive a tonguel8 on the lower edge of door 9. Any suitable locking means may beemployed to hold the upperend of the door in position in doorway IS, oneform of such means herein being shown as spring held balls I9 adapted tobe pressed laterally into suitable small recesses 20 in each of thesides of doorway Hi. This arrangement permits the door to be easilyopened merely by pulling outwardly on handles 2| and then slightlyraising the door to free tongue Id of its groove i1.

Beneath the condenser and evaporator, whose tubes are shown in Fig. 1 at22 and 23 respectively, are disposed a condensate disposal traygenerally indicated at 24 and a condensate collecting tray generallyindicated at 25, whereby humidity in the room air which is condensed onthe surface of the evaporator will drip down and collect preferably insuitable troughs 25', Fig. 3, or tray 25 and thence be conductedlaterally through any suitable removable pipe 26' to suitable troughs24' in tray 24, thereby to be entrained by the upward flow of outsideair between said troughs and be evaporated by contact with thehot'condenser surface and thence discharged to the out- I side airthrough duct 4.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 3 the trays may be of any suitableconstruction but herein comprise sides 30 and 3| extendinglongitudinally for substantially the full length of the condenser. Thelongitudinally extending laterally spaced troughs 24' are supported bysides 30 and 3| near their upper edges while the lower portion of thesides supports an arched air filter 32 extending for substantially thefull length of the tray and removable therewith as disclosed in saidNeeson application. As far as the present invention is concerned, itwill suflice to state that the tray is longitudinally slidably supportedby flanges 33 and 34 formed on the upper edges of sides 30 and 3| anddisposed in suitable guideways 35 and 38 carried by the walls 2 of theair passage leading to condenser 2. A suitable opening is formed in theend wall 31 of this passage to receive the tray. The tray carries an endplate 38 which overlaps the edges of said opening thereby to permit apiece of rubber or other suitable yieldable material 33 to be interposedbetween said cover and end wall 31. A handle projects outwardly fromcover 38 and comprises preter- The reference numbers 2'- ably flatspring material 40 having a wood handle grip 4! which may also be madeof any suitable yieldable material such as rubber.

As shown in Fig. 3 the condensate collecting tray 25 is identical inconstruction to the disposal tray 24 except as to being somewhat smallerin overall cross sectional dimensions. A fllter 32' is supported betweenthe sides 30' and 3|. In each tray it will be noted that the air mayflow upwardly between the open lower sides of the trays to pass throughthe filters and then between the condensate troughs. Hence it is seenthat both the condenser air and room air are filtered and also that thecondenser is cooled by fresh air continuously brought in from theoutside through duct 4.

To ventilate the room by supplying fresh air thereto, I provide a shortelbow duct secured to the end plate 38 of the disposal tray, this elbowduct communicating with the passage in which tray 24 is disposed therebypermitting some of the fresh air supplied to said passage for coolingthe condenser to be diverted and supplied to the room air. As shown moreparticularly in Figs. 2 and 4 elbow 45 has a normally breakable jointcomprising specifically a sloping or inclined end 45 adapted to"register with a complementary inclined end of a passage 41. Thispassage 41 projects upwardly from the walls of the end air chambergenerally indicated at ID. This chamber is substantially rectangular infront view as seen in Fig. 1 and has an upper horizontal narrow side 49and a lower transversely disposed partially upwardly inclined narrowside 50 connected at each end by vertical sides 5| and an inner wall 52.The sides 5| and upper and lower sides 49 and 50 have an inturned flange53 to provide. an opening of preferably substantially the same size andshape as the room air inlet opening 8 formed in the cabinet door 8. Thischamber is brought into close cooperating relation with the casing offan l2 preferably by the provision of a conical member 54 projectinginwardly from the rear wall 52. This abutting or conical member 54 isheld in substantially nested relation to a complementary conical surface55 of the casing of fan l2. Suitable yieldable or other insulation isinterposed between said conical surfaces 54 and 55, each of which hasaligned openings communicating with the fan rotor 58. If desired anysuitable screws or other temporary holding means 51 may be used,although it will be understood from the description to be presentlygiven that such screws are not absolutely essential. From Fig. 1 it isseen that the end air chamber 48 extends for the full width of thecabinet, thereby permitting a maximum size inlet air opening 8.

'Withthe various elements in their operative relation as shown in Fig.2, door 8 sufliciently bears upon handle 4| to appreciably press thetray front plate 38 into snug contact with insulation 33 and end wall 31of the condenser passage and at the same time press the breakable Joint48 in close operative relation. In addition, suitable insulation 58makes a close fit between the air chamber flange 53 and the door, thuspreventing seepage of room air into improper portions of the cabinet.Also it is seen that fresh air diverted through elbow 45 is directedinto chamber .48 and therein mixed with the room air to be circulated byfan l2 upwardly through filter 32', thence between the troughs 28' andupwardly over evaporator 3 to be cooled and II iii dehumidified beforebeing discharged to the room through outlet 03, Fig. i.

To remove either one or both of the trays 24 and 25 (the latter alsobeing snugly held in position by contact between its handle 40' and door9) the door is pulled outwardly by handles 2! to release ball latches i9and then raised upwardly to clear tongue it of its groove ll. The pipeit then may be suitably disconnected whereupon by grasping handles to orMl the trays may be individually longitudinally slidably removed.

Upon removal of tray 2t, joint 46 separates'thus permitting completeremoval of the tray to clean the same or renew the filter. If desired asuitable adjustable pivot valve Gil may be disposed in elbow d5 therebyto variably control the supply of fresh air.

Hence it is seen that we have provided an ex--:

tremely simple arrangement for not only snugly holding various elementsin position so .as to' avoid leakage and vibration but have alsoprovided an extremely simple and efiective means. for insuring properventilation and permitting removal of the various parts, thisarrangement being applicable whether the cabinet is removable from theunit as shown or constitutes fixed inner' wallsof the unit placed insideof an outer cabinet.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in thedetails of the various elements and arrangements thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. An air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a heat exchangeelement, means for circulatingair thereover, a removable condensate traydisposed in the path of said circulated air, means whereby condensatefrom said tray is sprayed over said-heat exchange element, and means forpressing said tray to its normally operative position.

- 2. An air conditioning unit comprising, in

combination, a heat exchange element, means for circulating airthereover, a condensate tray disposed in the path of said air, meanswhereby condensate from said tray is sprayed over said heat exchangeelement, and a door in the side of said unit adapted when inclosedposition to hold said tray in its normally. operative position.

3. An air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a heat exchangeelement,-means for circulating air thereover, a condensate trayhorizontally removably disposed in the path of said air, means wherebycondensatefrom said tray is sprayed over said heat exchange element, ahandle secured to an outer portion of said tray, and a door adapted whenin closed position to press on said handle and hold said tray snugly inits operative position, whereby aupon opening of said door said tray maybe removed by pulling on said handle.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 further characterized. in thatsaid handle is yieldable.

5. An air conditioning unit having front and end walls comprising, incombination, a refrigerant heat exchange element, means forming apassage whereby air maybe-circulated in a vertical direction over saidheat exchange element, a condensate tray, means whereby condensate fromsaid tray is sprayed over said heat exchange element, means forhorizontally removably inserting said tray in said passage through oneof said end walls, and a movable portion of said end wall being adaptedwhen in its closed position to press said tray and firmly hold the samein its operative position.

6. An air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a refrigeratingsystem including a pair of complementary heat exchange elements, meansfor circulating outside air over one of said elements and room air overthe other of said elements, condensate collecting and disposal meansremovably disposed in said paths of air over said elements, and meansincluding amovable door for snugly holding said condensate collectingand disposal means in their operative position.

7. An air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a heat exchangeelement, means for circulating room air thercover including a blowerenters said chamber and then flows through said inlet to be circulatedover said heat exchange element, and'a door adapted to be pressed intoengagement with the .walls of said chamberforming means to substantiallyseal the same.

8. An air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a refrigeratingsystem having a pair of complementary heat exchange elements, means forcirculating room air over one of said elements and outside. air over theother of said elements, and means forming a separable passage for.diverting a portion of said 'outside air to the flow of room air.

9. An air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a refrigeratingsystem including a pair of complementary heat exchange elements, blowermeans for circulating room air over one of said elements and outside airover the other of said elements, a filter interposed between saidoutside source of air and the heat exchange element over whichtheoutside air flows, and means for diverting a portion of said outsideair before it passes through said filter and supplying said diverted airto the flow of room air. 7

10. An air conditioning unit comprising, in

combination, a refrigerant system including a pair of complementary heatexchange elements, blower means for circulating room air over one ofsaid elements and outside air over the other of said elements, aremovable condensate tray disp0sed in the path of said outside air, andmeans associated with said tray for diverting a portion of the outsideair and supplying said diverted air to said flow of room air thereby toadd fresh air to the room.

11. An air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a refrigerantsystem having a pair of complementary heat exchange elements,

means for circulating room air over one of said elements and outside airover the other of said elements, removable condensate collector anddisposal trays respectively disposed in the paths of said room andoutside air, filters carried by each of said trays, and means fordiverting outside air from beneath one of said filters and supplyingsaid diverted air to the room air beneath the filter therefor.

HANS K. STEINFELD. HENRY L. GAISON. AR'I'HUR S. LOCKE.

